Galinda was feeling especially antsy, although only a few days ago she was sure she'd feel better after the party. Instead, she felt worse.

Elphaba wasn't acting like herself, which was completely understandable. Galinda was fine with this; Elphaba was upset, so she needed to vent her emotions. Galinda did have to live with her, though, and, although the blonde felt sorry for Elphaba and wanted to help, she didn't find it fun to be constantly stuck in the middle of Elphaba's short temper.

It didn't pay to try to cheer her up either. Elphaba was drained of any humor.

"Galinda, will you please shut up?" she snapped, "I'm trying to read this book." She held up a bright red textbook proclaiming You'll Win The Case! in large purple letters.

"Ooh," Galinda said nervously, "Let me help?" And, before Elphaba could protest, Galinda had jumped over to Elphaba's bed, and had somehow quickly snatched the book out of the green girl's hands.

"Galinda!" Elphaba yelled, but Galinda had already leaped back over onto her own bed.

"Look, see? 'The only surefire way to win a case is to exclaim, proclaim and act like you know what you're talking about. . . .' What in Oz is this?"

While Galinda was preoccupied, Elphaba took the opportunity to steal the book from her hands. "This is the modern criminal justice genius, Galinda. You're obviously too dim to understand."

"At least I'm making an effort to add a little light to the room," and, to express her point, Galinda threw the curtains wide open. "Even if I'm dim, it doesn't mean the room has to be, Miss Elphaba."

Elphaba squinted her eyes against the light, but didn't say anything more.

"Fiyero's coming over in a bit," Galinda said listlessly, and waited for a response. When there was none, she added, "And Boq . . . and Ava—"

"Not him," said Elphaba.

"Yes, him. He is actually quite nice once you get to know him."

"I already know him; I gag whenever he talks."

Galinda sulked.

"But wait, they're coming here?" Elphaba asked suddenly.

"Yes," Galinda answered hesitantly.

"Oh, I have to leave, then. I can't hang around here and—"

"Elphaba," Galinda said seriously. "Please, just—" She took a breath. "Just please stop with the dramatics, alright? We're all worried about you. You're not yourself and you need to simmer down just a bit."

Elphaba laughed. Galinda wasn't expecting it, and jumped slightly. "Not myself? Well, honestly, that's not much of a surprise with all the stuff that's been going on, Miss Galinda."

"I know it's not but . . . I just want you to smile." She grinned sheepishly. "Big and wide. I've never seen someone go so long without a sober smile on."

"I don't want to smile," she said. "I'm miserable."

"I was lying, Miss Elphaba. They really aren't coming over. Sorry."

* * * * *

"Galinda," Boq said.

Galinda looked over carefully, and smiled hesitantly. "Yes, Boq?"

"Elphaba just slammed the door in my face," he said. "I think she's gone overboard."

Galinda sighed. "Boq, I know this. But what can we do? She's obsessed with her research."

Boq rolled his eyes and scratched his head. "I don't know. I just think that it's a bit unhealthy."

"Of course it's unhealthy," said Fiyero.

"I opened the curtains this morning and she recoiled like some creature of the night," piped Galinda. She bit out of a muffin and chewed silently.

"You all talk about Elphaba as if she can't care for herself," said Avaric suddenly, coming from nowhere. He pushed past Boq and joined their little circle with a wide smile on his face. "From what I've seen, she's pretty independent. Just leave her to it, and she'll come out grinning."

"But, as we've mentioned, it's unhealthy," Boq said angrily. "I'm sure you heard me say so while you were eavesdropping."

"Yes, I did," Avaric said matter-of-factly, "But I'm sure Miss Elphaba doesn't want you all to act like her mother."

"So you think we should leave her for dead?" Galinda demanded, dropping the rest of her muffin in a nearby garbage. "Let the court's jury pick their teeth with her bones? She's going to kill herself fretting over this garbage!"

"I beg to differ," said Avaric, "And you all call yourselves her friends—"

"I never said I was her friend," Galinda protested.

Avaric stared at her. "Whatever you say." Then he shook his head. "All I'm trying to prove is that if you all really . . . wanted what was best, you'd leave her to figure it all out by herself."

"Everyone needs some help sometimes, Avaric," Boq said.

"Some people don't want it, though."

"But what if they don't want it, but need it?" the munchkin countered.

"Then by giving them it, you'll only annoy them further," Avaric droned. "Don't you see? Ah, you'll never truly understand how her mind works, will you?"

"And you do?" Galinda snapped.

"I've got some of the inner workings figured out, yeah," he said. "I'll never be any expert, though; she's got quite an odd mind, you know. Complex. I do know that she doesn't like help from anyone. . . ."

"Well she's getting it," Fiyero said simply. "Whether she likes it or not, she's always going to have someone who can help her, especially now. Avaric, think about this—it's ridiculous. She's not sleeping, hardly eating, and spending every waking second in the damned library. It's not going to help her case, or hinder it."

Avaric walked away laughing, and the rest of them sighed.

* * * * *

"Hello, Miss Elphaba," Boq said merrily.

"Boq," Elphaba replied plainly. "How are you?"

"Lovely," he said. "So much better because I have this lovely . . . pie."

"Sounds marvelous," she said, pouring over her book.

"Looks delicious, doesn't it?" he said, but Elphaba didn't look up.

"Looks wonderful."

"Oh, come on," he muttered, and sat down beside her in the library. "Apple Oz Pie."

"From Quancy's Café?" she asked.

"Yes, just the place. . . ."

"No food allowed in the library," she told him, and ignored the silverware clinking around on the plate.

Boq grumbled angrily. "Have you ever been to Quancy's Café?"

"Yes, it's a dump."

"But the food is delicious."

"The place is infested. I swear it. Found a cockroach in my soup."

"Disgusting," he said, peering at his slice. "But not in the pie? You loved the pie, right?"

"No, I didn't find a cockroach in that," she said and Boq relaxed. "I actually found a finger in it, instead."

She got up and bid Boq goodbye. He stared blankly at the pie for a moment, and then got up, too. He walked into the courtyard, found Avaric, and gave him the pie graciously without hesitation.

So much for tempting Miss Elphaba with delicious pastry treats.


Bah, the chapter turned into a big joke. Filler chapter. A little humor to the angst, I guess. And it's not even all that funny.

Hope you enjoyed, regardless. Keep reviewing! Thanks everyone!

-Faba